10.Android 5.1: Unwrapping a new Lollipop update

Today we are rolling out Android 5.1 - an update to Lollipop that improves stability and performance and offers a few new features like support for multiple SIM cards, Device Protection and high definition (HD) voice on compatible phones.

Whether you want to share your phone with a family member or better manage your mobile costs, Android Lollipop 5.1 now lets you use more than one SIM card on a device with multiple SIM slots.

Today we are rolling out Android 5.1 - an update to Lollipop that improves stability and performance and offers a few new features like support for multiple SIM cards, Device Protection and high definition (HD) voice on compatible phones.

Whether you want to share your phone with a family member or better manage your mobile costs, Android Lollipop 5.1 now lets you use more than one SIM card on a device with multiple SIM slots.

With Device Protection, your lost or stolen device will remain locked until you sign in with your Google account - even if someone resets your device to factory settings. This feature will be available on most Android phones and tablets shipped with Android 5.1 in addition to Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.

High Definition voice calling is now on your mobile phone. Get crystal clear calling with HD Voice between compatible Android 5.1 devices like the Nexus 6 on T-Mobile or Verizon.

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http://officialandroid.blogspot.ro/2015/03/android-51-unwrapping-new-lollipop.html

Verizon to sell $15B in assets, launches $5B buyback

Lightning struck twice at Verizon on Thursday evening as the telecom behemoth announced a $15.54 billion sale in assets in two separate transactions.

Verizon announced plans to sell its local wireline business in California, Texas and Florida to Frontier Communications for $10.54 billion, Verizon said. It will also sell the leasing and operating rights to 11,324 wireless communication towers to American Tower for about $5 billion. The Boston-based American Tower will also purchase 165 additional towers outright from Verizon in the transaction.

Verizon's stock rose about 1 percent in after-hours trading following the announcement, while Frontier's shares rose almost 4 percent. American Tower's stock also rose slightly after the bell.






Verizon's deal with Frontier marks the second time in six years the two companies have done business together. Frontier bought 4.8 million rural phone lines from Verizon for $8.6 billion, according to a Reuters report. The New York City-based company also said it would buy back $5 billion in shares starting in this year's second quarter.


Source:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102402418

Verizon Wireless to Make 'Super Cookie' Tracking Opt Out

Verizon Wireless said today that it will allow users to opt out of being tracked by so-called "super cookies."
A Verizon spokeswoman said the company expects to add an opt-out provision "soon."






At issue are tracking cookies intended to serve up relevant ads. The practice is nothing new for Web users, but as the Electronic Frontier Foundation noted last year, "super cookies" focus on mobile surfing and users cannot easily opt out.
"It allows third-party advertisers and websites to assemble a deep, permanent profile of visitors' web browsing habits without their consent," the EFF said at the time. "In fact, it functions even if you use a private browsing mode or clear your cookies."


Source:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2476078,00.asp

UPDATE 1-AT&T top buyer at U.S. airwaves auction; Verizon, Dish spend big

Jan 30 (Reuters) - AT&T Inc spent close to half the total in the record-setting U.S. sale of airwaves for mobile data, with Verizon Communications Inc and bidding partners of Dish Network Corp also spending heavily, results showed on Friday.

AT&T bid a total of $18.2 billion to win licenses of so-called AWS-3 spectrum; Verizon bid $10.4 billion and T-Mobile US Inc bid $1.8 billion, according to the results released by the Federal Communications Commission.






The record $44.9 billion auction, which ended on Thursday, demonstrated the voracious appetite of wireless carriers and other companies for spectrum, which has become a prized commodity as companies race to satisfy the growing consumer demand to stream video and other data-guzzling content.

Dish itself did not win any licenses, but it had entered into joint bidding agreements with SNR Wireless LicenseCo LLC and Northstar Wireless LLC, in which it has indirect ownership interest. Those two companies bid a total of $13.3 billion, but had applied to receive a discount as small business entities, bringing their net bid amount to $10 billion.


Source:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/30/usa-spectrum-wireless-idUSL1N0V920V20150130